Carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks
The two authorised claims, and the composition rules that gate them.
Useful if
You want the two authorised drink claims and will check energy, sodium, and osmolality.
Skip it if
You want a hydration plan, or a flavoured bottle treated as if the claims apply automatically.
A buying guide. Not a hands-on test, a score, or a reader story.
A drink that meets the numbers
Why this note
The claims exist only for carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions inside a strict composition window.
In favour
- The numbers are published and checkable.
- A drink outside the window cannot carry the claims.
Against
- Labels often omit osmolality.
- This is not a drinking schedule.
The EU authorises two claims for carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions, and only for drinks that meet strict rules on energy, sodium, and osmolality. A flavoured bottle that misses those numbers cannot carry the claims. This page quotes the rules so you can read a label. It is not a hydration plan.
How to read this note
Start with the job of the product. Then read the trade-offs. The shop buttons come last, and they are advertising. Nothing above them is a test result.
What to look for
- Kilocalories per litre from carbohydrate, inside 80–350
- Sodium per litre, inside 460–1,150 mg
- Whether the label says anything about osmolality
- A clear “per litre” column, not only a per-sip number
What these supplement notes compare
The comparison is the wording on the label, not a promise about your training. Only authorised EU claims are quoted, and only with their conditions.
The authorised sentence
If a claim is not in the Union Register, it is not used here. No fat-loss lines, no recovery miracles.
The conditions
A daily amount, a source-of threshold, or a drink composition. The sentence applies only when the product meets them.
The person
Several claims are for adults. This site does not read symptoms and does not set a dose.
Authorised EU wording
“Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions contribute to the maintenance of endurance performance during prolonged endurance exercise.”
“Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions enhance the absorption of water during physical exercise.”
Wording follows Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 and the Union Register of nutrition and health claims.
Supplement questions
Is this medical advice?
No. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle, and they are not a substitute for medical advice. Pain and illness belong with a clinician who can assess you.
Why do you not name a dose?
A dose is a decision for you and, where it matters, for a clinician. The page only repeats the condition the EU attaches to the claim, such as 3 g of creatine a day for that one sentence.
Where to look
Placeholder searches for electrolyte and isotonic drinks. We do not claim any linked drink meets the composition rules.
Shops for this page
A rough band, not a live price. The shop sets the price.
| Shop | Best for | Trade-off | Indicative price | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | The widest US catalogue when you already know the spec you need. | Many similar listings. You still have to read the details. | $15–40 | Check price |
| Decathlon.com | A single sports shop when you want a shorter aisle. | A narrower range than a general marketplace. | $15–40 | Check price |
Product photo
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Placeholder. Draft guide. Merchant links are ordinary catalogue searches until affiliate programmes are approved. This site has no wear tests, scores, or reader stories.
Merchant links
Suggested: Amazon.com
Country header: US Matched to the country header.
- Merchant links. Amazon.comSuggestedOpens in a new tab
- Merchant links. Decathlon.comOpens in a new tab
Placeholder destination. The programme is not approved, so this is a catalogue search, not a tracked affiliate URL.